Police unearthed more drugs in Berbice

Kaieteur News
March 5, 2007

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NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE –Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway, Commander of Division ‘B' of the Guyana Police has broken his silence on what seems to be an increase in the volume of illicit drugs found in Berbice.

During last week a quantity was uncovered in a number of communities. “I do not want to give away too much to those with criminal intent but since our Annual Officers' Conference last month, we have changed some of our operational tactics.

This enables us to do more effective intelligence-led policing as distinct from event-driven policing. We are not only targeting drug pushers but we are going after the gunmen, the traffic violators and other deviants. We are working in close collaboration with the various stakeholders in the Division.”

According to him, Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and the senior management team are behind the Berbice police activities. “We are also networking with the various Divisions. Our plan is to reduce crime in Berbice to an all-time low.”

Last Tuesday at a police road block at Fort Wellington , West Coast Berbice, police stopped and searched a minibus and found a bag containing 13 grammes of what is suspected to be cannabis sativa.

Charles DeJonge of Victoria, East Coast Demerara was subsequently arrested and charged for trafficking in narcotics.

He appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan the following day at the Fort Wellington Magistrate's Court, and pleaded not guilty.

Later, on the Auchlyne Public Road , Corentyne, another road block resulted in a bust.

Jagbish Jamat of Canefield, East Canje , who was a passenger in a minibus, reportedly had nine pounds of cannabis strapped to his body.

A few hours later during another road block at Manchester , Parmeshwar Tulsie of Port Mourant, a passenger in a bus, allegedly had two grammes of cannabis sativa wrapped in a $1,000 note in his pocket. He was also placed before the Court.

On Wednesday, Jefferson Greene of Heathburn, East Bank Berbice, was charged after police found one three-foot marijuana plant and four containers of 400 seedlings of the said plant on his farm. He was arrested and later charged.

Later on Wednesday, seven miles off the Lancaster Public Road, police destroyed a half-acre plot of marijuana with some 4,000 plants between three and seven feet tall. No one was arrested and ownership of the land is yet to be determined.

On Saturday, the police Marine Patrol at Lighttown on the East Bank of Berbice arrested a man who was at a camp on the Berbice River . According to the Assistant Commissioner, four grammes of cannabis sativa was found in a black plastic back in his pocket. He was arrested and remains in custody.

At Angoy's Avenue on Saturday a man was arrested after he was caught with three grammes of cannabis sativa. He is in custody. Both are to appear in court tomorrow (Tuesday).

On Sunday, due to another road block at Rose Hall Town , a minibus en route to Springlands was stopped and searched. One of the passengers, a woman who gave a Victoria , East Coast Demerara address, was said to be carrying 820 grammes of cannabis in her handbag. Another occupant of the same vehicle and of the said village allegedly had five grammes in his possession.

Later on at Bank Street , Rose Hall Town , police arrested three women after 102 grammes of the said drug was found at their home in a trash can.

The Assistant Commissioner said that police would continue this strategy. “We have had some success. Our patrols are now more visible on land and water.”

Meanwhile, acting on a tip off on Saturday, police searched an abandoned house at Sheet Anchor, East Canje , and found a 30 horse power outboard engine and a 40 horse power outboard engine along with a lighting plant. The articles were taken to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam where they are now lodged.

Investigations are continuing.